266 Express

Santa’s Chief Elf Brings The Magic To Sanger

• Co-hosted by John Noblitt and Donna Green

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Ever wonder how a child’s letter in a small Texas town finds its way to Santa’s hands? We invited Sugar Plum Mary—Santa’s senior correspondent elf—to pull back the curtain on the North Pole post office, Sanger’s magic red mailboxes, and the community teamwork that makes replies arrive right on time. Her stories prove that behind every “sparkle tunnel” and dusting of reindeer magic is a thoughtful system of checklists, care, and partnership with our city crew.

Mary shares how Sanger became one of Santa’s happiest stops, and why that status sticks: people show up for each other. From the first precious letter a mom asked to keep, to the parade moments where reindeer ate one candy cane too many, there’s a thread of joy and humility running through it all. We talk about growth—from a cozy gathering to a full-on celebration with music, lights, food, Mrs. Claus crafts, and a brand-new Snow Hill—without losing the hometown feel that makes families keep coming back.

You’ll hear how the elves stay on track when the holidays get hectic, the truth about Santa’s famously detailed nice list, and a reassuring update on Sanger’s kids doing wonderfully this year. We even touch on toy trends—Littlest Pet Shop, Polly Pocket, and the forever-fun Hot Wheels—for anyone scanning wish lists. Most of all, Mary’s message lands: kindness is the real magic. Do something thoughtful for someone else and watch the season shine brighter.

Join us for a warm, funny, and heartening look at how tradition, organization, and community spirit keep Christmas on the Square special. If you enjoyed this conversation, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave a quick review so more folks in Sanger can find it. What’s your favorite holiday tradition you can’t wait to pass on?

You have been listening to The 266 Express, the official podcast of Sanger, TX. IF you have comments or suggestions, please send them to dgreen@sangertexas.org

SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to the 266 Express. I'm John Knoblett. Got Donna Green with me today. And Donna, is it snowing here? What is going on?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, it is snowing. You think it's raining, but it's snowing because we have Sugar Plum Mary in the house. Sugar Plum Mary? Yes. So if you're if those of you do not know who she is, she is the Santa's chief elf who's responsible for him interacting with all of the children in Sanger every year. She contacted us a few years ago and um because Santa was interested in Sanger, and she's the reason that we have the Santa come and visit us now for Christmas on the square and all the letters to Santa.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, she has been a great liaison with the North Pole. Hey Mary.

SPEAKER_01:

Hi, good morning. How are y'all?

SPEAKER_00:

I'm fantastic.

SPEAKER_01:

I'm fabulous. I'm so excited to have she smells like cookies.

SPEAKER_00:

She does smell like cookies.

SPEAKER_01:

That's the only way to smell from Santa's.

SPEAKER_00:

I love it. So, Sugar Plum Mary, for those who might not know, what exactly does your role as one of Santa's most trusted elves involve?

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, I'm one of Santa's senior correspondent elves. So my main job is to make sure that every letter that children send to Santa gets read and answered. I help organize the North Pole Post Office and keep track of who's on the nice list. I also help coordinate Santa's travel schedule, especially for their special visits like Santa's Christmas on the Square.

SPEAKER_00:

And this is what we talked about, right? Don't put postage on your letters to Santa.

SPEAKER_01:

No, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00:

Because that's one of your roles.

SPEAKER_01:

That's right, yeah. So I alluded to it a little bit, but tell us how you became involved with helping Santa during Sanger's Christmas on the square.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, well, several years ago, Santa told me about this wonderful little town called Sanger, where the people truly love Christmas. He wanted to make it permanent stop on his tour. So I came down ahead of him to help organize things. And I've been a part of Sanger's celebration ever since.

SPEAKER_01:

Wonderful. So you might want to just warn Santa that somebody had a request this year for us to have a Grinchmas theme. But we are still very, very, very much Christmas oriented. But just somebody who might be on the naughty list, you know, uh wanted Grant here this year.

SPEAKER_00:

Somebody that may have gotten coal in their stocking for 20 straight years.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh no. Somebody.

SPEAKER_02:

I'll be sure to let Santa know. We'll take care of that.

SPEAKER_00:

Now, you know, I I'm I'm gonna tell on us a little bit because I thought maybe when I first heard that Santa was super interested in a partnership with us that he thought Sanger, California, which is like the Christmas tree capital of the United States. But I didn't want to bring up, hey, is this the right Sanger? Uh, because it's absolutely the right Sanger to us. We we know that Sanger is special. What do you think makes Sanger special to Santa?

SPEAKER_02:

It's definitely the people. Sanger has this incredible small town warmth that feels just like the North Pole, without the snow, of course. Everyone here treats each other like family, and that spirit makes Christmas extra special. Santa always says Sanger is one of his happiest spots. I'd have to agree.

SPEAKER_00:

That's true.

SPEAKER_01:

To be honest, very, very true. So everybody asks each year, and and inevitably somebody will always leave money, and I try to I'm like, So we're trying to get it, we try to get it back to them if we can figure out where it is. Sometimes they just throw it in there so we don't know who it goes back to. But um, tell us how the magic mailboxes work and how the letters get to Santa at the North Pole.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, it's pure Christmas magic, I love it. When a child drops their letter in one of the red mailboxes around Sanger, the letter gets whisked up through the sparkle tunnel, snowflakes, and reindeer dust straight to the North Pole post office. There, the elves and I sort them, and then Santa reads each one of them. Then he sends a special reply back through the same magic tunnel to the post office for delivery.

SPEAKER_00:

But don't you get a lot of letters?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, absolutely. We get a ton of letters. But Santa doesn't respond to like all letters all over the world. So it's he just has these special mailboxes set up sort of places. That's why, that's why they work for here. Can you imagine if you had to write all the kids in the wall? That would have taken a lot of time. We're very, very fortunate.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I well, I mean, I think that's the work that you do, Mary.

SPEAKER_02:

We try, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00:

So can you tell us uh do you have I I'm a s I'm assuming that Santa shares some of the stories that he receives in his in his letters with you. Uh I think it would make you much more well-rounded in your position if you did, right? So can you tell us a heartwarming or memorable letter that you've seen come through Sanger?

SPEAKER_02:

Yes. One year a little girl sent her first letter ever to Santa. It was so sweet. The mom asked if we would return the letter so she could keep it. Now normally Santa likes to hang on to those, but he knew it was a special thing. Writing your first letter to Santa, so he was sure to return it to them.

SPEAKER_01:

It's not how many letters are you getting from Santa for Santa every year from Zanger? Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_02:

It several hundreds, you know, just tons of letters. We love it. It grows every year.

SPEAKER_00:

You're excited? I am so excited. I love it.

SPEAKER_01:

I love Christmas. You love Christmas, right? It's your favorite time of the year.

SPEAKER_00:

It is. It's the most wonderful time of the year, Mary. Um, so we know about elf magic, and everybody that has ever come in at Christmas time has denied it, but we know it's true. Right? Can you tell me, without giving away too much about your elf magic, how do you and your team make sure every child receives a response from Santa before Christmas?

SPEAKER_02:

Let's just say the elves run a very efficient operation. We have list, checklist, and double checklists. And with a little North Pole time freeze magic, we can write thousands of letters in one night. The city of Sanger helps too. They make sure the mailboxes are ready and that every letter gets to me safely.

SPEAKER_00:

I'm gonna talk about I'm gonna ask more about the time time freeze later because I have a desk full of information that I need to get to, and that would help.

SPEAKER_01:

I don't think that works for us. So tell us, um, what's it like working directly with Santa? I get so excited when he comes here for just a few hours every year, and but is behind the scenes. Is he that holly jolly guy? Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02:

Santa is exactly as you picture him jolly, kind, and always humming Christmas carols. He's also very organized. You'd be surprised how detailed his naughty and nice list is. He always makes time to check in on Sanger personally before the big night.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, it's busy, right? It's everybody busy holiday time because you got Thanksgiving and then right into the Christmas season, sometimes into the Christmas season before Thanksgiving. Um so uh the um when we talk about the holidays being busy, how do how do you keep everything running so smoothly? Because I mean I don't I don't think I could handle it.

SPEAKER_02:

We say it's hot cocoa and teamwork. We start preparing in July, and every elf knows their part. We've got toy makers, reindeer trainers, cookie bakers, and mail room elves like me. It's a joyful kind of busy. And when things get stressful, we take a dance break. Elves love to dance.

SPEAKER_00:

What are you are the elves listening to any good bops right now? What's the what's the tunes?

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, I mean, rocking around the Christmas tree is our absolute favorite in the shop right now.

SPEAKER_00:

I get it. That's a good one.

SPEAKER_01:

That's definitely a good one. So um tell us, are there any funny or unexpected moments that happen around Christmas on the square over the years that you can tell us about?

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, definitely. One year the reindeers, the reindeer ate too many candy canes. I got a little too energetic during the parade. Another time I accidentally dropped my bell bag and jingled all the way down Main Street. But the best moments are always when we see the kids' face light up when Santa arrives. That is great.

SPEAKER_01:

There's always a big line waiting on him.

unknown:

I just love it.

SPEAKER_00:

So you always thought that was just the Christmas lights in the park that would lighten up the kids' faces, but it's Santa's. It's Santa, yeah. Yeah. So have you seen the Christmas on the Square event grow and change over the years?

SPEAKER_02:

It's truly amazing. When we first came, it was a cozy little gathering, and now it's a full community celebration with music, lights, food, and families everywhere. Every year it feels a bit more magical, but it still keeps that hometown feeling that makes Sangers so special.

SPEAKER_01:

So, um, what do you think makes Sangers celebration of for Christmas so unique compared to other towns that Santa happens to visit?

SPEAKER_02:

It's the sense of community. Everyone pitches in from the city team to the businesses to the families who decorate downtown. It's not just an event, it's a sheer tradition. You can feel the love in the air.

SPEAKER_00:

Now, there's a lot of things happening at Christmas on the square, right? You got food vendors, there's snowhills, there's crafts with Mrs. Claus, and we're very pleased that she always comes with Santa. Yes. Uh what what is your favorite part of the event? Something that you you look forward to every year.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, it has to be watching the moment when Santa arrives and the children see him for the first time. That sparkle in their eyes, that's the true magic of Christmas. And of course, I love checking the mailboxes one last time before heading back to the North Pole.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

You mentioned the Snow Hill. That's new this year. So Snow Hill is yeah. Yes, I'm very excited.

SPEAKER_00:

It's um it's gonna be a lot of fun and it's gonna be cold because it's snow hills in in the workshop, or do you how much time do you get to spend in the workshop as opposed to I mean, I understand that everybody has their their roles, but do you get to spend any time in the workshop?

SPEAKER_02:

And is it we we always make time for fun and to have a good time? And so we do have some snow hills. They're not exactly in this in the shop, but they are right outside. So sometimes, you know, instead of a dance break, we might run out real quick and get some sledding in down those snow hills.

SPEAKER_00:

That sounds like a good time. Rosebuds.

SPEAKER_01:

So, what message would you like to share with the children and of course the grown-ups of Sanger as they get ready for Christmas?

SPEAKER_02:

Remember that Christmas isn't just about presents, it's about kindness, giving, and spending time with people you love. When you do something nice for someone else, that's when the real magic happens.

SPEAKER_00:

That's true. That's true. Well, they say sometimes it's not about the presence, it's about the presence. Yes. Yeah? Absolutely. Is that the mantra at the North Pole?

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely, you know. Santa really believes in that.

SPEAKER_00:

All right, so what I would like to know, right, is can you give us just a hint? Because I don't deal with kids like the school district does, or parents. My my my boys are are long out of the house. And I'll talk to you about them later, maybe. Okay. So I can find out what's going on because they don't visit much. Uh, but can you give us a little hint about how Santa feels about Sanger's kids this year? I mean, or mostly nice lists, or a little naughty problem?

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, I checked twice before coming here, and I can definitely confirm Sanger's kids are doing very well this year. Santa's proud of them for being kind, helpful, and spreading joy. It might even bring a few extra surprises for those who've gone above and beyond in kindness. Ooh. That is.

SPEAKER_01:

One last question I have for you. Um you know, every year there's the Christmas hot toys. And so do you can you share with us anything that you know that Santa's special this year? I don't know what the hot toys are. I've got an eight-year-old, I know what she wants, but I don't know what the hot toys are.

SPEAKER_02:

You know, Santa does have a few. Um, Littless Pet Shop seem very popular. Polly Pockets for some of those older kids out there may remember those. Those are very popular. And of course, things like Hot Wheels are always fun with the tracks and all the fun things that you can do with Hot Wheels. So I think there's gonna be a large variety that Santa's gonna take care of.

SPEAKER_00:

You know what doesn't work good on a Hot Wheels track? Lump of coal just falls off the edge. Just saying.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, maybe he'll get you a smaller lump this year.

SPEAKER_00:

Maybe. Maybe, maybe. I'm very concerned that I'm on the wrong list. I'm not gonna lie. I think he's gonna be okay this year. Oh my gosh, is that a reindeer poginess head in here? What is going on?

SPEAKER_01:

Is that Donner?

SPEAKER_00:

Oh my god. Do you have to go?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah? Yes. Absolutely. He's you know, he keeps me on track. He keeps you on time. Because I'd stay here all day and talk.

SPEAKER_00:

Who trained that? Reindeer.

SPEAKER_01:

One of the reindeer trainers.

SPEAKER_00:

I'm impressed.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

No messes.

unknown:

No.

SPEAKER_01:

You're right, indoor trained. Absolutely. Body trained.

SPEAKER_00:

Trained reindeer. Right. That is impressive. Well, Mary, thank you so much for coming in.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you for having me. It's always wonderful to visit Sanger.

SPEAKER_00:

I look forward to it. And you know, uh, if I'm already on the list, it's not gonna matter. You're my favorite. I love Santa, I love Mrs. Claus, but the work you've done here in Sanger with the uh with the letters and getting the, I mean, it's been seamless every year. Um, those those letters come in and they go out, and I'm amazed at it. So thank you for that.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, thank y'all for the opportunity. We love it. We absolutely love this community and the people here and your team. Wonderful. Thank you so much. Thank you. See you later.

SPEAKER_00:

We'll see you later. Bye, Donner. Rude.

unknown:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

I don't think he was gonna stop and talk to you.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, talk to the towel.

SPEAKER_01:

All right, crazy.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, you've been listening to the 266 Express. I'm John Koblet.

SPEAKER_01:

I'm Donna Green.

SPEAKER_00:

Thanks for listening in to what's going on in our small little North Texas town.